Under Australia's business migration scheme, immigrants, known as migrants in Australia, need to own a business for three years in order to qualify as a permanent resident.

Basically the Dept is not looking at the viability of the business after 3 years - just whether any TWO of these criteria are met:

1.  a business has been set up with at least one full time employee,
2.   the owner has put net assets of $A75,000 into it
3.  the owner has $A250,000 in Australia. .

And, yes it’s possible to get Permanent Residence after having an initial Temporary Business Visa. 

Anecdotal evidence suggests immigrants often bring one family in the extended family in at a time via one retail franchise. The establishment is owned by the first family wanting to qualify as an Australian resident.

Franchisors are taking advantage of that rule.

Rik Hellewell, Managing Director of  U.K.-based Ovenu has announced, "Ovenu, the oven-cleaning service franchise, is looking for people keen to emigrate to Australia and set up in business there."

According to the same article, Britain's Murcia Villas is seeking migrant franchisees that will offer villa sales and rental services for those who  want to set up in Spain.

The need for franchise profitability can be less because the top priority for some immigrants is to qualify to live in Australia. The first shop owner then assigns the business to the next relative, and so on.  After the initial business has been purchased, the selling price can be very favorable to other family members wanting to transplant Down Under.

There is more detail about the 3 relevant Australian Visa subclass documents attached (160, 161 and 163) or anyone interested in knowing more can ask Wilson Chu of Playfair Visa and Migration Services in Sydney, Australia. wilson@playfair.com.au.